Wisconsin Small Claims Answer Form SC-5200V — How to Fill It Out

Form SC-5200V is the official Wisconsin state form for answering a small claims complaint. It's free to download from wicourts.gov, free to file, and it's the single most important document between you and a default judgment.

Before You Start

Pull out your Summons and Complaint (Form SC-500). You'll need the exact county name, plaintiff's full legal name, your full legal name, and the case number — all transcribed exactly as they appear on the summons. Even a small mismatch can cause processing problems at the clerk's office.

Also check Form SC-6040V, the court's instructional sheet for filing an answer. It walks through the general steps but doesn't explain county-specific rules, so you'll still need to verify your county's return date procedures separately.

Filling Out SC-5200V Section by Section

Header and caption: Copy the county, plaintiff name(s), defendant name(s), and case number directly from your summons. Get the spelling and punctuation exactly right.

Box 1 — Matter IS NOT Contested: Check this if you agree with the plaintiff's claim in full. The court will enter a judgment against you for the amount demanded, plus statutory costs and interest. Only select this if you genuinely do not dispute what they're asking for.

Box 2 — Matter IS Contested: Check this to dispute the claim. You must write a concise factual statement explaining why — defective workmanship, partial payment already made, wrong dollar amount, failure to perform contract terms. Keep it to the facts. You don't need a legal brief or an emotional narrative. The court schedules the case for mediation or a hearing where you present your full case.

Counterclaim section: If you have your own claim against the plaintiff arising from the same dispute, complete the counterclaim section of SC-5200V. General-money counterclaims up to $10,000 ($15,000 for actions commenced on or after January 1, 2027) and tort counterclaims up to $5,000 stay in small claims at no additional fee. Counterclaims above the applicable threshold require a $125.50 transfer fee and move the entire case to the circuit court's general civil track.

Signature and date: Sign the form and date it. If you're representing an LLC or corporation, the form must be signed by a full-time authorized employee or an attorney — not an independent contractor, part-time worker, or family member.

Filing and Serving Your Answer

You have two options:

1. eFiling: Submit electronically through the Wisconsin Circuit Court eFiling system at wicourts.gov. There's a $20 per-party system surcharge for electronic registration.
2. Paper filing: Bring the signed original to the clerk of circuit court in the county where the case was filed. The clerk stamps it filed.

After filing, you must serve the plaintiff. For paper filing, mail a stamp-filed copy to the plaintiff (or their attorney) by first-class mail or personal delivery. If you eFile, follow the portal and county instructions to confirm how service is handled. If you mail a document, keep proof of mailing; for a counterclaim, file Form SC-5130V (Declaration of Mailing) with the clerk.

The deadline for all of this depends on your county's local rules and the instructions on your summons; the return date is not necessarily the only deadline. Don't count on extensions — a pending motion, a phone call to the clerk, or ongoing settlement talks do not pause the clock.

Common Mistakes

• Missing the return date entirely — even by a day, the court can enter a default judgment under Wis. Stat. § 799.22.
• Writing too much or too little in Box 2 — you need facts, not emotions, but you do need to say something specific enough to show a genuine dispute.
• Forgetting to serve the plaintiff — filing with the clerk is only half the job. You must also mail a copy and file the proof of mailing.
• Sending an email to the clerk instead of filing — an email is not a legal filing under Chapter 799.

For line-by-line completion guidance, county-specific filing tracks, and a service log that keeps you from missing any step, the Wisconsin Small Claims Response Guide covers Form SC-5200V in full detail.

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